US & World News, Thursday 2/7

US & World Summary: --- Standoff Leaves Four Dead Including One Officer In Los Angeles (Winnetka, CA) -- A standoff between the Los Angeles Police Department and an armed man has left four people dead, including a SWAT Team officer. Police responded to a domestic violence call in the San Fernando Valley last night around 9 p.m. They were met by the armed suspect who barricaded himself in the home. After negotiations failed, a gun battle broke out around 11 p.m.. Three people who are believed to be related to the suspect were fatally shot and two officers also suffered gunshot wounds. One of those officers later died at an area hospital. The LAPD says that suspect remains barricaded in the home. --- Tornadoes In South Kill At Least 55 People In Four States (Nashville, TN) -- The death toll has climbed to at least 55 from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that cut a path of destruction through areas of the South on Tuesday and yesterday. According to the National Storm Prediction Center there were unconfirmed reports of 69 tornadoes that hit parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas. There were 31 deaths in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. President Bush will be in Tennessee tomorrow to survey the storm damage and offer government support for those affected by the storms. --- Weather Forecast Doesnt Look Good For Shuttle Launch (Cape Canaveral, FL) -- It may be the weather and not technical problems that grounds the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The weather forecast doesnt look very promising for todays planned launch of the orbiter. The same weather system that spawned deadly tornados across several states is expected to move over central Florida right around launch time. Although forecasters arent expecting severe weather, they say there is a 70-percent chance of bad weather at launch time, which is set for 2:45 Eastern, this afternoon. --- One Of Jena Six Arrested (Carrollton, TX) -- Theres more trouble for one of the so-called Jena Six. Eighteen-year-old Bryant Purvis has been arrested and accused of attacking a fellow student at a Texas high school. Purvis was one of six teens originally charged with attempted murder for an attack on a student at his former high school, in Jena 1/81/8 JEAN-uh 3/83/8 Louisiana. The case made national headlines because the six attackers were black and the student they fought was white. --- Britney Spears Released From Hospital Britney Spears is out of the hospital, but apparently isnt keeping a low profile. The troubled pop star quietly left the UCLA Medical Centers psychiatric ward yesterday after nearly a week of treatment. Just hours later, she was back out on the streets of Los Angeles with paparazzi in tow. In a bizarre odyssey captured by news helicopters, Spears ended up at the Beverly Hills Hotel where she was met by pal Adnan Ghalib. The two of them then drove to the office of Spears new attorney, Adam Streisand. --- Fight Over Found Money Hits Snag, Most Of Its Gone (Cleveland, OH) -- The Depression-era money found in an Ohio home is nearly gone. Thats according to the Cleveland homeowner who has been fighting to keep 182-thousand-dollars that was found hidden away. Amanda Reece told a magistrate this week that shes spent about 90-percent of the stash that was found in her homes walls by a contractor in 2006. The money has been the subject of legal challenges from the contractor who found it as well as heirs of the homes original owner. --- Suns Agree To Deal For ONeal (Phoenix, AZ) -- Shaquille ONeal is the newest member of the Phoenix Suns. The deal was completed yesterday after ONeal passed his physical. The Suns traded forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat in exchange for the future Hall of Fame center. Suns head coach Mike DAntoni says he thinks the trade gives the Suns a better chance at winning the NBA championship. Shaq helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to three NBA titles and won a fourth ring with the Heat two seasons ago. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-02-07-08 0740CST